I always look forward to this time of year as the leaves begin changing colors and the feeling of transition lingers in the air. Fall always brings a sense of starting a new chapter, and for many of you, a brand new semester is now underway. Perhaps it’s your first time balancing a heavy course load and an internship on top of everything else.

In college, it felt like a miracle when I made it to all of my classes and internship on time with matching shoes on (and coffee in hand, of course). In addition to devoting my time to school and an internship at a local marketing agency, I served as the VP of Communications for Greek Life while also managing an editorial staff. Going home between classes to change outfits before work simply wasn’t an option for me. (I mean really, who has the time for that?) Thus, I always wore pieces that would easily transition from class to professional work attire. You may be wondering how you can do this without looking overdressed for class. I have found that it’s all about layering.

In the fall, the trick is to incorporate classic staples with trendy pieces. For example, if you choose to wear colored jeans to class, you can simply add a muted cardigan to make the outfit look fashionable, yet still professional for your internship. Layering adds new dimension to your style, allowing you to mix and match fun colors without looking like a walking skittles-explosion.

You can easily wear outfits that are work appropriate while still being on trend. Of course, you should always dress conservatively and professionally for the office, but that doesn’t mean you need to wear a boring white button up blouse and khaki pants. Don’t be afraid to create a unique style that still reflects your personality. Generally, business casual attire is acceptable at most offices, which simply requires adding a structured piece to your outfit such as a pencil skirt, a cardigan, nice flats or a blazer.

When in doubt, a black or beige blazer pulls together any ensemble. Also, when you are in a time crunch, you can always just throw on a cute scarf. Bold colored scarves continue to be trendy for fall, and they spice up any simple white tee or sweater.

I have picked out a few of my favorite fall staples (from my closest right now). I like to mix-and-match each of the pieces below to create entirely different looks for class, work, or the weekend. I usually just add a scarf, statement earrings, or a fun necklace to pull it all together.

I would love to know how you make the transition from class to work attire. Happy fall, everyone!

Lili Beck is an Executive Assistant at Shoutlet, Inc., an enterprise social marketing platform used by leading brands and agencies to publish, engage, and measure their social media marketing in one tool in Madison, Wisc. Lili writes for the blog MadGirl PR which provides insights about the PR, social, and marketing industries. Follow her on Twitter @lilibeck.